Course Title:
Advanced Biotechnology
Lesson Title:
Discovering the Plant Cell
TEKS Addressed in Lesson: 130.364 (c) (5) http://ritter.tea.state.tx.us/rules/tac/chapter130/index.html
Lesson Objectives. The student will be able to:
1 Identify the parts of a plant cell
2 Describe the functions of each organelle
3 Compare plant cells to other cells
Tools and Equipment
 Projector
 PowerPoint: Identifying Plant Cells
 Worksheets: Plant Cell Identification and Key
Key Terms / Vocabulary
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Cell (Plasma) Membrane
Cell Wall
Chloroplast
Cytoskeleton
Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum
Plasmodesmata
Golgi Complex
Vacuole
Mitochondria
Nucleus
Nucleolus Peroxisomes
Ribosomes
Engage / Interest Approach/Anticipatory Set
Cells are the basic building blocks of life. As future professionals in biotechnology, you will need to have
a strong understanding of the cell structures found in plants. These are the structures we will be working
with closely to produce changes in the plant.
Explore & Explain / Teaching Plan and Strategy / Presentation of New Material
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Plants cells have some unique structures
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In particular, chloroplasts allow the plant to capture energy from the Sun
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Eukaryotic cells
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Means membrane-bound nucleus
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Some organelles are similar between other types of cells.
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Parenchyma Cells
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Collenchyma Cells
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Synthesize and store organic products, “filler” tissue; e.g., the soft part of the plant.
Extra structural support, esp. in areas of new growth
Sclerenchyma Cells
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Provide main structural support
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Plant cells generally larger than animal
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Plant cells more consistent in size and shape
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Unique structures:
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Cell wall
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Large vacuole
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Plastids
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chloroplasts
Plant Cell vs Animal Cell
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Animal Cell
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Various sizes and shapes
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Smaller than plant cells
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Organelles typically not found in plant cells:
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Centrioles
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Lysosomes
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Cilia/flagella
Plant Cell
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Consistent shape and size
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Typically “cube-ish”
Organelles typically not found in animal cells:
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Cell wall
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Large vacuole
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Plastids
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Organelles:
Chloroplasts
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Cell (Plasma)
Membrane
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Cell Wall
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Chloroplast
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Cytoplasm
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Cytoskeleton
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Golgi
Complex
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Microtubules
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Mitochondria
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Endoplasmic
Reticulum
(ER)
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Nucleolus
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Nucleopore
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Peroxisomes
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Plasmodesmata
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Ribosomes
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Vacuole
Nucleus
Plasma Membrane
o Similar to other cell type plasma membranes
o Phospholipid bilayer acts as a permeability barrier.
o Location for transport of molecules into the cell.
Cell Wall
o Plant Cell
 Mostly composed of cellulose
o Animal Cell
 No cell wall
o Bacterial Cell
 Prokaryotic cells made up of murein (aka peptidoglycan)
o The cell wall is a rigid layer on the outside of the plasma membrane.
o The cell wall offers structural support, filtration, and protection.
Chloroplasts
o Only found in plants
o Contain chlorophyll
 Green pigment that makes plants green
o Main function is photosynthesis
o Chloroplasts contain their own DNA
o Chloroplasts can host transgenes – better isolated than nuclear transformation
Cytoskeleton
o Supports cell shape and function.
o Composed of proteins which can assemble or disassemble as the needs of the cell
change.
o Found in cells of all domains of life.
Endoplasmic Reticulum
o Two types:
 Rough (RER)
 System of sacks found in cell’s cytoplasm
 Rough is covered with ribosomes that give it a rough appearance.
 Functions as transport through the cell, produces proteins
 Transport vesicles take proteins from RER to Golgi apparatus
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Smooth
 System of tubes located in cytoplasm.
 Function as transport through the cell.
 Contains enzymes to assist in digestion of lipids proteins
 Smooth ER buds off of rough ER.
Golgi Complex
o Also known as Golgi body or apparatus.
o Flattened and layered organelle. Resembles a stack of pancakes.
o Receives the vesicles from RER and converts proteins and lipids to various useable
products
o Transports out vesicles
Microtubules
o Component of the cytoskeleton
o Helps maintain structure of a cell
o Involved in cellular processes and intracellular transport
Mitochondria
o Found in most eukaryotic cells.
o The “powerhouse of the cell”.
o Generate most of the cell’s adenosine triphosphate (ATP)  chemical energy
o Maintains control over the cell cycle/growth.
o Mitochondria have their own DNA (mtDNA).
Nucleus
o Contains most of the cell’s genetic material
o Contains chromosomes which house the DNA
o Nuclear pores around the nuclear membrane allow molecules to move across the
membrane.
o Movement is needed for gene expression and chromosome maintenance
Nucleolus
o Inside the nucleus is the nucleolus
o Ribosomes are made inside the nucleolus
Peroxisome
o Produces enzymes for the breakdown of fatty acids
o Assist in photorespiration of leaves and germination of seeds
Plasmodesmata
o Microscopic channels traversing cell walls of plant cells
o Transport proteins, mRNA, viral genomes from cell to cell
o Viral movement example: tobacco mosaic virus MP-30
Ribosomes
o Ribosomes are technically NOT an organelle as they are non-membrane bound.
o Free-floating and attached to rough endoplasmic reticulum.
o Site of protein synthesis.
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RNA translated into protein
Vacuole
o Present in all plant and fungal cells
 Some protist, animal, and bacterial cells
o Enclosed compartments filled with water
o Functions:
 Containing waste products
 Containing water
 Maintaining internal hydrostatic pressure
 Support structures such as leaves and flowers
Elaborate / Activity/Application/ Student Engagement /Laboratory
Have students complete the computer cell identifying activity online. The URL:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/health/anatomy/cell/plant_cell_game.htm
If you wish to have them turn work in, you can opt to have them play the game and then copy
the drawing and identification onto a piece of paper.
Evaluation / Summary
The cell identification worksheet can be utilized as an assessment or end-of-class activity. In
addition, you can opt for classroom response questions such as: “What organelle is the
powerhouse of the cell?”
References/Additional Materials / Extended Learning Opportunities/ Enrichment
Nature’s Scitable: http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/plant-cells-chloroplasts-and-cellwalls-14053956
Biology about.com: http://biology.about.com/od/cellbiology/ss/plant-cell.htm
Sheppard Software’s Cell Games Plant cell identification game:
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/health/anatomy/cell/plant_cell_tutorial.htm
College & Career Readiness Standard
Science: VI Biology, A, 1: “Know that although all cells share basic features, cells differentiate to
carry out specialized functions.”
©Texas Education Agency, 2015